DesignGears and Chainfire, XDA members and developers, have worked on releasing the Root de la Vega utility for the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3 smartphone. This will allow you to apply root for your device without tripping the KNOX flags.

Note that this tutorial only roots your T-MO Galaxy Note 3 smartphone while the bootloader will stay locked. This means that you won’t be able to flash any new custom ROMs, Recovery Images, Kernels or any other type of customization file. Also, it would be best for you not to update to any new Android OTA Update in the future as that potential new firmware version might not support any new root methods.

Note that for the root to be applied successfully the system partition and internal storage will be completely deleted. Make sure to remove the external microSD card before starting the root, as otherwise it will be wiped completely too. More info can be found in the preparation guide below. Make sure to read all the info that I’ve listed in this post and don’t skip any steps listed in the tutorial.

This is a very long tutorial and you should carefully go over all instructions before deciding whether to apply root or not for your Galaxy Note 3 phablet.

Here’s what you need to know before continuing to the firmware rooting part of this post:

Use this guide only for the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3 phone with model number set to SM-N900T.

Don’t attempt to flash the files you find here on any other Samsung Galaxy Note 3 variants, as you will end up bricking that device.

Verizon Galaxy Note 3 SM-N900V can be rooted with the same Root de la Vega method using this guide here.

Root de la Vega tool will install a custom and pre-rooted Note 3 AT&T firmware ROM that is based on Android 4.3.

Bootloader will not be unlocked. This means that you won’t be able to flash any custom things such as new ROMs, kernels or recovery images. These can be flashed only on devices with bootloader unlocked.

The warranty of your device will not be voided by this guide.

KNOX Flags will not be tripped in the process and their value will remain at 0x0.

Root de la Vega will wipe out every single file stored on your phone’s system and internal storage.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to take out the external microSD card if there is one installed on your device.
– if you don’t remove it from your device, then its contents will be deleted. In the tutorial you’ll find a step that reminds you to do that.

If you wish to backup data from installed applications then you can use the Helium tool from Google Play Store here.

Download and install Samsung USB Drivers on your computer – link here.
– if you skip the installation of these drivers then your smartphone will not be recognized by ODIN, the tool that we’ll use to flash the root files.

Disable or uninstall the Samsung KIES software, if it is present on your PC. This app will interfere with the installation process and you might not be able to complete root.

Disable all antivirus apps from running on your PC.

Enable USB Debugging from Developer Options.

Use this tutorial only if you’re an advanced Android user and don’t blame us in case you lose data or you brick the smartphone in the process.

Backup important files from your phone before starting the root.

Make sure that your phone’s battery has enough power left before it completely switches off.

In case you cannot complete the root or you don’t know how to apply some of the steps listed below, then you should ask for more help in comments.
– also, you can visit the Note 3 T-Mobile XDA thread here for more info about Root de la Vega.

Since you’ve gone past all the guidelines above, then you can continue to the next part of this post.

Download Root_de_la_Vega.7z archive file from here.
– after the download of Root de la Vega 7z file is complete, make sure to extract its contents and save the folder on your desktop.
– the contents of this 7z archive are as following: root_de_la_vega.zip, Odin3 v3.09 executable and Odin3.ini (this one might not show up if you have ‘hidden folders’ enabled).

Power off your device now completely.

Boot it now in Download Mode:
– it can be done by pressing and holding at the same time Volume Down, Home and Power buttons.
– release the buttons when the Warning! screen appears, then press Volume Up to confirm Download Mode.

Launch Odin3 v3.09 executable on your computer.
– this app can be found in the folder created in step 3.

Connect your T-Mobile Galaxy Note 3 with your computer via USB data cable.
– wait for Odin to detect your device by showing the ‘added!!’ message and then get to the next step.
– if Odin doesn’t recognize the phone, then you should re-install the Samsung USB Drivers. (download link is listed in the preparation guide)

Go to Odin window and click the AP button, then load the N900TUVUBMI7_VEGA.tar.md5 file.

Next, click the CSC button and load the N900TTMBBMI7_CSC.tar.md5 file.
– make sure that the Re-Partition option is not enabled and that the Auto Reboot and F Reset Time options are enabled.
– don’t change any other default settings.

Hit the START button when you’re ready for the flash process to begin.
– wait until are files are installed and Odin says that the process was completed along with the green PASS box showing up.

When the phone is rooted it will reboot in normal mode automatically and you should leave it connected to your computer.

Now, go to folder created in step 3 and extract the contents stored on the Root_de_la_vega.zip file.
– you will obtain the following: ‘root files’ folder and root_de_la_vega.sh file.

Make sure that your T-Mobile Galaxy Note 3 is connected to your computer and then move both ‘root files’ and ‘root_de_la_vega.sh’ on your phone’s root partition.
– don’t create a new folder on your phone’s internal root partition, just drag and drop the files.

After the files are copied, restart the phone.

Wait until the reboot process is complete and then go back to the root partition of your folder. Delete the ‘root files’ folder and ‘root_de_la_vega.sh’ file.

Now that you’ve deleted those files, restart your smartphone once again.
– this will apply root successfully.

After the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 3 boots in normal mode, disconnect it from your computer.

Go to Google Play Store and install the Root Checker Basic app.

Launch the Root Checker tool on your device and use the Verify button to confirm that the root was applied.

That’s it, now you only need to power off the device and insert the external microSD card in case you had one. The root process is now complete.

I hope that you found this guide useful and that you’ve managed to apply Root de la Vega method for your T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N900T smartphone.

In another forum they said to dial *#1234# to find your CSC and vega code, but when I did it on my tmobile it said unable to process request, are the files you’ve chosen here the right ones already for us? Im on Tmobile USA, TX

Leon

On T-Mobile Galaxy Note 3, dial *#12580*369# instead of *#1234# to find your AP and CSC. I did it on my new T-Mobile Galaxy Note 3 and rooted it successfully without tripping knox.

TmoUxer

I’m having the same issue with my SM-N900T , when I enter the ussd code *#1234# to find the CSC and vega code, a message appears “unable to process request”. I also tried to find the scs and AP files you posted on this blog on the 1st page of xda forum for this vega root, but the files you posted do not show up on that site.

VenumX

i just got it working fine by following his steps on my tmobile sm-n900t.. didnt have to do anything to get the csc or vega code… the files provided work fine

Joshua

It worked great for me, and the Knox counter is still 0x0! Thanks!

Super Happy Rooted Note 3 User

Thank you! This worked perfectly. About 5 times in the process I needlessly freaked out (this is my first Android phone and it feels a bit scary to me to do something that can (does) void the warranty, though the rewards far outweigh it!) … all I had to do was wait and I got the confirmation that the stepped work and I could proceed on to the next. Thanks for the very clear instructions and the files!

MilordDede

Reading is fundamental…_PLease follow instructions very well, google is your friend just in case you dont know what or where something is.THANK YOU! IT WORKED OUT FOR ME TOO!

mren

Is this still a valid and functional method? I have a T-Mobile note 3 with MI7 firmware. Thanks!

Scorpi

Hello, I want to root my N900T using this method so I can recover deleted pictures. Is there a way to unroot? Thanks